Ex-Dem councilwoman hurls racist slur at Hugin backer

Kathleen Murphy, a former Democratic councilwoman from River Edge, is facing criticism this morning for a racist Facebook post aimed at an African American Democrat who endorsed Republican Bob Hugin for U.S. Senate on Thursday.

“Maybe called around and this place had a free opening in their schedule? Anyway, Good Luck being the shoe shine boy for Hugin. Hope it pays well,” wrote Murphy, who served on the council from 2011 until her sudden resignation two years ago.

The post came after Demetrius Terry, who had been active in the New Jersey College Democrats, announced that he was switching his personal endorsement from Bob Menendez to Hugin.

Shoe Shine Boy has long been viewed as a racist comment.

George Bernard Shaw once wrote that “the American white relegates the black to the rank of shoeshine boy; and he concludes from this that the black is good for nothing but shining shoes.”

Murphy’s comment was quickly condemned by the top Bergen County Democrat.

“That type of talk is just unacceptable,” said Louis Stellato, the Bergen County Democratic Chairman.

This is the second time in the last few weeks that Democrats have deal with racist remarks from public officials. Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino resigned after getting caught on tape making racist and homophobic comments.

Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango came to Terry’s defense in his own Facebook post.

“ (It) Is not ok when a Democrat call a African American Boy you are going to get a job as a Shoe Shine Boy for x person,” wrote Arango, a former Assemblyman. “College political activist have to show the world that they are better, they have to show that we are building a better future Because that person is free to choose….the Democratic young leaders are using racial statements do not help our destiny as a free society. They are becoming what they criticize.”

A phone number listed on public documents for Murphy while she was a councilwoman is no longer in service.